The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1887-04-09

lolnlng corridor were piled Il number
Of open boxes and baskets, containing
cakes, pies. canned fruits. oranges.
sugar and other daintics, together with
a tiny rug or two, and some kniek.
nacks for adjoining the walls of cells.
Another comfort which is permitted
and recommended, is y narrow hair
mattress, to replace the ordinary bag
OF straw on which the prisoners sleep.
Any article of food Which, does not re-
quire further preparation may be re-
ceived; but cigars and spirituous liquors
are strictly prohibited.
1--WE used to be puzzled" said
Warden Brush, "at occasionally finding
a prisoner in a state of cxhilaration
which the ordinary beverages. coffee
and water, could not have produced.
1t occurred to sound these tin an of
fruit, and we discovered hat in many
cases the cover had been scientifically
raised, and a pint or so Of good whisky
or brandy substituted for the natural
juice. Now We prod every can to make
sure that the contents are unsophisti-
Gated
To reach the principal keepers office
it was necessary to pass through that
section of the prison where the narrow
whitewashed cells rise. tier upon tier.
Every thing was scrupulously clean;
pure air and sunshine streamcd in
from the long corridor looking out
upon the yard; yet this vista If
sepulchral stone walls and narrow,
barred doors was the saddest and
drcariest that we encountered at Sing
Sing.
The office of Principal Keeper James
Connaughton, on the ground floor.
opens upon the yard through which
gangs of convicts file in lockstep to
their meals. in the basement of Il large
stone building opposite. Mr.. Con-
naughton is the direct organizer and
disciplinarian of the entire force
of convicts. His position is one
uf aItluUus responsibility. which
man of less 1irmess could
not maintain for a single day. He is
an erect. powerfully built mar of med
ium height, with Il smooth, clear-cut
face and steel-blu eyes. Though some.
what taciturn himself, he is much
talked about, and has been made Il COM
spicious figure in certain sensational
stories relating in graphic style things
that never happened at Sing Sing.
There is, indeed, a punishment room;
and being situated in close proximity
to Mr.. Connaughton's Office. it is the
first place he showed us. Whoever ex-
poets to find here a repetition of the
dungeons and torturc-chambcrs of
Chillon will be disappointed. 1t con
tains about a score Of cells. which may
be completely darkened by closing a
wooden door outside the iron-barred
one. None Of these were occupied at
the time of our visit. There are also
two machines for suspending rebellious
convicts by the thumbs, and raising
them on tiptoe. This is Il severe pm
ishment, seldom resorted to; and the
toughest subject can not stand it for
more than half minute. Minor penal
ties consist of cutting off a prisoners
tobacco privilege, or dcpriving him of
his place at the head Of Il column in the
march to meals, should he chance to
hold that coveted position.
Under the guidance Of Mr.. Con-
naughton, we made quite a thorough
tour Of the workshops. They were, at
the time of our visit, perfect hives of
industry, employing over 900 convicts
at stovemaking, shoemaking and laun-
dry work. The iron works are ex-
tcnsive and very picturesque. One
passes through heavy doors, gr,my
gates, under tumbledown sheds, and
down long lanes hcmmed in by heaps
OF iron, rows of stoves, or molding APP
paratus. Here and there stand super
animated old furnaces. looming up
g%igantically in the deep shadow.
Workmen dart mystcriously hither and
thithcr, t%rnndling whcelbarrows or
hauling trucks. Then we emerge into
the molding-rooms, and Il most animat-
ed scene they present. The men have
thrown off their striped coats and caps,
which, with their br~ight-colored ban
danna handkcrchiefs. hang about on
beams and hooks. The fire CLOVIS,
and the clangor of machincryis heard,
but not ~ word is spoken. Sparrows
t"lttcr in the blackcned rafters over
head and shafts of brilliant sunlight
pierce the smoky atmosphere. The
work with n will, never looking
up, though many II furtive glance is east
ut us as we turn to 60 out. Through !
the fitting, finishing and packing de-
partmcnts, to where the perfect stoves
arc sent out, we observe the same al